[RE-wrenches] SMA Arc-Fault

[Chris Mason]

You can use a Fluke 435 series, it will reveal any harmonics and record the
energy levels for each harmonic. It has a scope feature. You can rent one
pretty cheaply and record 24 hours of data. I can send you a sample report
from mine if you want.

On Sun, Nov 13, 2016 at 9:36 PM, Dave Tedeyan <dtedeyan at taitem.com> wrote:

> Howie,
> Yes, we have actually already replaced both inverters on site and the
> issues are still happening. At this point I doubt that we could have
> gotten 4 units with faulty arc fault sensors...
>
> Drake,
> I am beginning to think that it may be some noise from the utility.
> Would you know of a way to test for this? eGague unit maybe?
>
> Cheers,
> Dave
>
>
>
> *--*
>
>
> *Dave Tedeyan*
> *Project Engineer*
>
> *Taitem Engineering, PC*
> 109 S. Albany Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
> Voice: (607) 277-1118 x121
> www.taitem.com
>
> On Fri, Nov 11, 2016 at 10:15 AM, Drake <drake.chamberlin@
> redwoodalliance.org> wrote:
>
>> Electrical noise coming in from the utility side can also cause an arc
>> fault code.
>>
>> At 07:32 AM 11/11/2016, you wrote:
>>
>> This array is a ground mount, so not on a roof, and no radio towers
>> nearby.
>>
>> As for grounding, The array and the shed with the interconnection point
>> are in the same area.
>> There are a couple ground rods there, which everything on the AC side is
>> connected to,Â
>> including a #6 wire from each inverter. there is just a #10 ground coming
>> from the array to the inverters.Â
>> The house is a couple hundred feet away and has its own grounding
>> electrode system.
>>
>> Jerry,
>> The inverters are new (replaced 2 months ago), but it is a good idea to
>> check firmware.
>> As for AC loads, nothing stands out as the types of things you mentioned,
>> although there
>> may be a well pump. They also do have a large water storage tank for
>> heating, but they
>> say that they have not needed to use it yet this year. Then there is also
>> the generator...
>>
>> Thanks for your recommendations.
>> -Dave
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *-- Dave Tedeyan*
>> Project Engineer
>>
>>
>> *Taitem Engineering, PC *109Â S. Albany Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
>> Voice:Â (607) 277-1118 x121 <http://??>
>> www.taitem.com
>>
>> On Thu, Nov 10, 2016 at 9:51 PM, Jerry Shafer <jerrysgarage01 at gmail.com
>> > wrote:
>> Dave.
>> We have many TL-22 in the field and they will detect faults even when
>> they are normal contactor faults, have you made sure the SW is the latest,
>> last I checked it is 2.65.3R and it may have a patch in there, you can turn
>> off the feature for testing only and see if you melt something down but if
>> you do please be on site as a arc may happen. Do you have a well, AC system
>> with contacts, welders, compressors, anything that has a dry contacts that
>> brakes under load, this is another place I would look. Every time we have
>> had a code out it was real weather from something normal or a wire issue.
>> Not to brag but we have hundreds in the field from the 3's to the 24's and
>> as much as I dread getting a call with this issue I can usually find the
>> problem and it can be either AC or DC.
>> Jerry
>>
>> On Thu, Nov 10, 2016 at 8:14 AM, Dave Tedeyan <dtedeyan at taitem.com>
>> wrote:
>> Hi All,Â
>>
>> Maybe someone will have some ideas for why a couple inverters keep arc
>> faulting:
>>
>> -There are two SB7000TL-22 inverters, Sunpower branded.
>> -3 Strings of 7 SPR-327's to each inverter. Kept separate until the
>> inverter.
>> -Ground mount about 50' from the shed where the inverters are located
>> (indoors)
>> -Simple grid connected system, no batteries.
>> -There is a whole house generator co-located in the shed.
>> -We interconnect by using piercing taps on the line side of the generator
>> transfer switch
>> -There has been only one power outage there since the system was
>> installed in April, but the generator fires up weekly.
>>
>> -The arc faults have been happening on both inverters. Sometimes only one
>> at a time, sometimes both will go within a day of each other.
>> -The events have been approximately one a month, but sometimes more,
>> sometimes less.
>>
>> -We have already checked every single connection in the system twice, by
>> two different people.
>> -We have replaced the underground wires (and they looked just fine)
>> -We have replaced all home runs.
>> -We have replaced both inverters.
>> -Arc faults are still happening.
>> -Arc faults are not always on the same day/time of the week.
>>
>> I am wondering if this can be caused by the generator?Â
>> Has anyone run into a situation like this or something similar?
>>
>> Thanks for your help,
>> Dave
>>
>> --
>>
>> Dave Tedeyan
>> Project Engineer
>>
>> Taitem Engineering, PC
>> 109Â S. Albany Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
>> Voice:Â (607) 277-1118 x121 <http://??>
>>
>> www.taitem.com
>>
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-- 
Chris Mason
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™
Solar Design Engineer
Generac Generators Industrial technician

www.cometsolar.com <http://www.cometenergysystems.com>
264.235.5670
869.662.5670
Skype: netconcepts
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